COWTOWN COURIER JULY 2023

1 Cowtown Courier 1 The best in the wesT Fort Worth HOG Chapter #1260 CAPTION THIS!

Fort Worth HOG wishes to express their deepest gratitude to Mark & Jennifer Smith and also to the management and staff at Fort Worth Harley- Davidson for their continued support and inspiration!

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Well fellow riders, it is summer again. That means vacation time for many travelers. Everyone should be aware of what that means. There will be a lot of extra vehicles on the roads with us. We all need to have our heads on swivels during this time of year, even more than normal. A lot of the travelers that will be with us on the road are not from around here and they are just traveling to somewhere else, so they are driving down the road, but not paying as close attention as they should and they may realize they are about to miss their exit. Then what they do is a fast lane change to make it to their exit. That being said, if they do not realize we are out there with them we may get taken out. Remember, there are two types of cage drivers: 1. People who know someone that rides or they themselves ride. (they look and see you) 2. All the other drivers. (The ones that do not see us and may not care if we are out there or not) As a rider it is your responsibility to be aware of what is going on around you, to keep yourself safe as possible. So please do so. Ride safe and defensive always, Jimmie (Butch) Martin Fort Worth HOG Head Road Captain

FORT WORTH HOG Reprinted from the Best In The West!! September 2017 “HOG FEED” newsletter Low Riders, Bowriders and Rockets The Diversity of Harley-Davidson Everyone knows that Harley-Davidson has been building motorcycles since 1903. But the Motor Company and their subsidiaries manufactured much more than just motorcycles, such as boats, golf carts, motor homes, and even rocket motors. In 1963, Harley-Davidson purchased 51% controlling interest in Tomahawk Boat Manufacturing Corporation, a company that specialized in fiberglass boats. In the 1960’s saddlebags and sidecar bodies were being made from fiberglass, so Harley desired to gain access to a fiberglass manufacturing source. Just two years later, Tomahawk Operations became the sole supplier of the fiberglass parts including sidecar bodies, saddlebags and windshields. In 1965 the company no longer manufactured boats and the name was changed to Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Tomahawk Division. Although Tomahawk Boats went out of business Tomahawk Operations now consists of two facilities. Cosmetic components are produced using an injection molding process and are later painted. Employees also produce windshields for Harley-Davidson motorcycles and parts produced for sale through the Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Parts and Accessories business. Also in 1963 the Motor Company began producing golf carts. In 1969 the golf cart business was sold to AMF who sold the Harley Davidson Golf Cart until 1982 when the cart line was sold to Columbia ParCar. Over the their 20 year run these carts were available in 3 and 4 wheeled configurations with gas or electric motors. These carts are popular with enthusiasts who restore them, and you can still occasionally find one for sale on eBay.

LOW RIDERS, BOWRIDERS AND ROCKETS In the middle 1960’s Harley built rocket engines for the U.S. Navy’s AQM-37 Jayhawk Supersonic Target Drone missile. More than 5000 LR-64 rocket engines were produced in the York, Pennsylvania facility over a 30 year period. 1969 was an eventful year. The Woodstock music festival, the first moon landing, and the acquisition of Harley-Davidson by American Machine and Foundry, commonly known as AMF. AMF had been making snowmobiles since 1965, but after taking over Harley they would redesign and re-brand them. A handful of 1971 Harley-Davidson Snowmobiles were produced and the 1972 model year was the first full year for the Harley-branded sleds and the last for the Ski-Daddler sleds, both AMF offerings. Harley-Davidson dealers were offered the Harley snowmobile line as a separate product and some former Ski-Daddler dealers were also offered Harley snowmobile franchises. Promoting the brand, the Harley-Davidson sleds were advertised as using Harley engines, two-stroke singles which were conveniently sourced through the Italian Aermacchi connection; Harley had bought 50% of Aermacchi about 1960. The Harley sleds were assembled at the company’s Oak Creek, Missouri facility, sharing production facilities with the Harley-Davidson golf cart. But, at the end of the 1975 snowmobile model year, it was announced that production of AMF Harley-Davidson snowmobiles would be discontinued.

LOW RIDERS, BOWRIDERS AND ROCKETS In February 1981, a group of Harley-Davidson senior executives, led by Vaughn Beals, signed a letter of intent to purchase Harley-Davidson from AMF. On February 27, AMF announced the sale to the public. Thirteen Harley-Davidson executives came together and invested the money to purchase the company back from AMF. This resulted in the sale of the company on June 16, 1981 back to Harley-Davidson investors with the slogan, “The Eagle Soars Alone.” In 1986 to diversify its holdings, Harley-Davidson purchased Holiday Rambler Corporation, producer of quality motor homes. Hoping to repeat their marketing success, an owner’s group similar to HOG was started and a clothing line was added. Ten years later Monaco Coach Company purchased the RV manufacturer. AND YOU THOUGHT THEY ONLY MADE THE BEST MOTORCYCLES ON EARTH! 2023 is a noteworthy year of celebrations! Harley Davidson 120th Anniversary H.O.G. NationaL 40th Anniversary Fort Worth HOG 35th Anniversary

Member Spotlight Euless Ceramic Tile Contractor 2 HP Sears & Roebuck 2023 Street Glide Hopefully 4 Corners, Sturgis Home cooking The rides we have done have been great. Dana has been riding motorcycles since he was 6 years old until 2000. He has been riding a Harley for less than a year, and has been a HOG member for less than a year.

PURPLE GOAT

MESQUITE PIT

INDOOR CARD CHASE

SMOKESTACK RESTAURANT

SMOKESTACK RESTAURANT

2023 TOUR OF HONOR 3101 Harvey Road College Station, TX 77845 229-211 FM 933 Whitney, TX 76692 109 Thrush Street Weatherford, TX 76086 S. Main Street at West H Street Waurika, OK 73573 206 W Blackjack Street Dublin, TX 76446 501 NW Ferris Avenue Lawton, OK 73507

2023 H.O.G. RALLIES H-D HOMECOMING HARLEY-DAVIDSON 120th ANNIVERSARY & H.O.G. 40th ANNIVERSARY MILWAUKEE, WI JULY 13 to JULY 16, 2023 “N” in the Burg H.O.G. Rally Fredericksburg, VA July 26, 2023 to July 29, 2023 Battle Cry of Freedom H.O.G. Rally Gettysburg, PA Aug 16, 2023 to Aug 19, 2023 Ring of Fire H.O.G. Touring Rally Tacoma, WA to Chico, CA Aug 30, 2023 to Sept 3, 2023 9 Passes H.O.G. Touring Rally Yuba City, CA to Lancaster, CA Sept 5, 2023 to Sept 9, 2023 Bikes, Beaches and Bridges H.O.G. Rally Clearwater, FL Oct 4, 2023 to Oct 7, 2023